31 Jan 2022

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Nagaland Post www.nagalandpost.com

Vol XXXII No. 55

DIMAPUR, MONDAY, JANUARY 31, 2022 Pages 12 ` 5.00

NSO says criticisms ‘hypocritical’; blacklisting by US will be rescinded

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Eviction drive near Dimapur turns tense

(L-R) An excavator destroying houses and residents gather around police personnel during the eviction drive on Sunday. (NP)

Staff Reporter

DIMAPUR, JAN 30 (NPN): Tension heightened at Block No.3, Balijan area along the DimapurKhatkhati border Sunday morning when Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) carried out its third phase of eviction drive through demolition of houses by over ten excavators (JCBs) that left several hundred people shelter-less. The eviction was carried out by KAAC’s Land Revenue department with assistance from Assam Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Many of those affected who talked to Nagaland Post at the site, said they were taken by complete surprise by the eviction drive since they firmly believed that the KAAC will respect the order issued by the Gauhati High Court to stay on eviction till February 2,2022. Some residents claimed that they had met KAAC members on January 29, and that the officials assured the residents that they would not be evicted as their petition was pending at Gauhati High Court. They said the eviction began with swift imposition of Section 144 CrPC

Parl budget session to begin from today NEW DELHI, JAN 30 (AGENCIES): The Budget session of Parliament is all set to begin on Monday. The session will start with President Ram Nath Kovind’s address to a joint sitting of both houses. Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Economic Survey 2021-22 on Monday and the Union Budget on Tuesday. The first part of the Budget session will be held from January 31 to February 11. After this, it will go into a recess to examine the budgetary allocations for different departments.

This is it!

“There they go-the Special Task Forcepatrolling by vehicle, while we guys walk miles everyday.” K Y M C

early Sunday morning. The affected said that eviction drive was also carried out against houses whose owners had petitioned the court and pasted papers written “H/Court” at their gates and entrances. Soon as the demolition began, some resident pelted stones and police responded with blank firing and tear gas shells. According to reports, several people including an Assam police personnel sustained minor injuries. Several of those affected said they possess genuine pattas issued by the KAAC and therefore, wanted a clarification on why were they houses demolished, contrary to assurances? The demolition drive targeted even a community constructed kutcha bridge connecting Balijan(Assam) with Dimapur(Nagaland ) used by hundreds of daily wage earners. This led to the situation turning serious and it was only after EAC (Sadar) from Dimapur, Nukshi told the crowd that the bridge was being spared after the intervention of the Dimapur district administration. The SDO also said that Assam Police had resorted to firing tear gas shells but

stopped after learning that officials and police from Dimapur were present to monitor the situation. Borlengri Area Villagers’ Union (BAVU) chairman Meren Ao, who was also present along with his colleagues at the time of the blank firing clarified that no Naga family had encroached upon even a small piece of land belonging to Assam. He claimed that Naga residents along the Assam-Nagaland border were law-abiding citizens living under Karbi Anglong. He asked whether the rights of “indigenous” Nagas and Karbis were different in the Constitution of India? He said the eviction drive came despite court restraint and clearly a matter of victimising legitimate land owners. When approached KAAC members at the site refused to answer question on why eviction was being carried out despite high court restraint order. Meanwhile, Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) and Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) will hold a meeting with Karbi Students’ Association (KSA) on Monday.

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Farmers to observe ‘Betrayal Day’; Tikait slams Centre NEW DELHI, JAN 30 (PTI): Alleging betrayal by the Centre, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Sunday announced a country-wide observance of “Betrayal Day” on Monday over farm issues. The national spokesperson of the influential north Indian farmers’ union claimed the over-a-year-long protest at Delhi's borders was withdrawn on the basis of a letter of promises by the government on December 9 but those remain unfulfilled. “A nation-wide ‘Betrayal Day’ will be observed on January 31 because of government’s betrayal to farmers. The movement was suspended on the basis of a letter given by the government on December 9 but those promises have not been fulfilled,” Tikait, whose BKU is a part of the SKM, said in a tweet in Hindi.

Nadal beats Medvedev to win Australian Open and 21st Grand Slam title SPORTS, PAGE 12

BJP implodes over ticket issue in Manipur

Correspondent

IMPHAL, JAN 30: Shortly after the ruling BJP announced list of candidates for the upcoming Assembly polls in Manipur, many aspiring candidates of the party, including sitting MLAs, announced their resignation from the party on Sunday after being denied tickets. In protest, supporters burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh and shouted slogans against the decision as BJP’s Central Election Committee released the much-awaited candidates’ list amid a tight security at the party’s State unit head office here in the afternoon. Party offices were ransacked in various parts of the State and protesters gathered in several areas with placards. Party’s mandal leaders also announced that they would close down offices in their respective constituencies. At some places, police

Party workers and supporters of BJP ticket aspirants burn party flags and banners in protest. (NP)

had to even resort to teargas shelling and firing mock bombs to disperse the agitated workers and supporters who took to the streets. At least 10 former Congress leaders who joined the BJP were given tickets as the party announced contesting all 60 seats in the Assembly elections. Former Manipur Congress chief who joined BJP, Govindas Konthoujam, also got the ticket to contest the election. (Full list on p-4) The protesters alleged that BJP, which was against family politics, was now

following the same path of Congress. Former minister and BJP spokesperson Dr Nimaichand Luwang also resigned after he was denied ticket. The party also denied tickets to three sitting MLAs, while offering them to political turncoats. Angered over this, three MLAs – Y Erabot Singh, M Rameshwar and P Sharatchandra – tendered their resignation from the party. They also declared to contest the elections from other parties as desired by their supporters. After his resignation,

Erabot joined National People’s Party (NPP) late in the evening and would be contesting from the party. As per the list, N Biren Singh will contest from his traditional seat in Heingang. Manipur is set to go to polls in two phases on February 27 and March 3. The notification for the first phase of polls in 38 Assembly constituencies will be issued on February 1, while that of the second phase in the remaining 22 seats on February 4. Counting of votes will take place on March 10.

State logs 65 fresh Covid cases, 2 deaths BJP has dumped NPF, 18 backlog deaths added to death toll

DIMAPUR, JAN 30 (NPN): Nagaland on Sunday recorded 65 fresh Covid-19 positive cases while two more patients succumbed to the infection. State health department on Sunday informed that the death toll rose to 735 (including 4 non-Covid deaths but with positivity) after 18 backlog Covid-19 deaths were included in the tally. Besides two deaths-one each in Dimapur and Mokokchung recorded on Sunday, state nodal officer and deputy director Health & Family Welfare department, Dr Nyanthung (Cont’d on p-8) Kikon informed that the 18

COVID-19 STATUS AS ON JANUARY 30, 2022 District

Dimapur Kiphire Kohima Longleng Mokokchung Mon Peren Phek Tuensang Wokha Zunheboto Total

Asymptom- Mild atic 590 4 43 0 36 3 10 6 33 26 1 752

19 0 91 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 117

ACTIVE CASES Symptomatic SEVERE Moderate ICU On On (without Oxy- Oxy- ventilagen gen tor) 5 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0

Non Covid RecovTotal Deaths MiDeath ICU ered with grated Cases (On Covid 19 ventiPositivity lator 5 14496 459 3 1010 16585 0 257 9 0 1 271 1 9287 125 1 224 9772 0 287 2 0 18 310 0 2271 58 0 69 2435 0 1128 14 0 21 1166 0 934 6 0 19 969 0 584 18 0 9 617 0 1102 13 0 3 1150 0 377 11 0 18 436 0 595 16 0 12 630 6 31318 731 4 1404 34341

*4 deaths not due to Covid-19 *0 deaths under investigation

backlogs include 3 in 2020 and 15 in 2021, all from Dimapur. No further details were made known about the reason for the backlogs. Further, of the fresh cases, 41 were from Dimapur, 16 in Kohima, seven

in Mokokchung and one in Wokha, taking the total caseload to 34341. Meanwhile, India reported 2,34,281 new Covid-19 cases, 893 deaths and 3,52,784 recoveries in the last 24 hours.

NDPP in Manipur: Therie

DIMAPUR, JAN 30 (NPN): Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) took a jab at both NDPP and NPF in Nagaland by saying that it came as no surprise, that BJP- has dumped them for the upcoming election in Manipur. He termed BJP contesting solo in Manipur as a big challenge to secular and like-minded voters. NPCC president K Therie said it was also a pity as enough strength and power had been given by the regional parties to BJP to stand on its own, thereby endangering the future of tribals and minorities, especially the freedom of religion. He said that as tribals being too simple, too short sighted, too short tempered and lacking

tolerance and patience, they cannot remember the past and nor could they see the future. Therie said tribals forgot history and even their ancestors for temporary gains, temporary pleasure and temporary riches. He said tribals also talked of rights without understanding the “other side of coin”. He alleged that BJP had its own dream of communal nationalism and that it was Hindustan with one language (Hindi) and one religion (Hinduism). While saying that tribals did not fit with RSS/BJP’s idea of nationalism, Therie called for freedom of religion as tribals cannot compromise with their identity, culture, customs and social practices.

ADDC temporarily lifts indefinite bandh India fighting new Covid wave with great success: PM

DIMAPUR, JAN 30 (NPN): Aboi District HQ Demand Committee (ADDC) on Sunday decided to temporarily lift the ongoing indefinite bandh with effect from January 30. The decision comes following a meeting held on January 28, where Konyak Union (KU) requested its Aboi unit to lift the indefinite bandh in view of the upcoming meeting with nine Konyak elected members on February 2 and 4 on account of the demand to upgrade Aboi subdivision to a fullfledged district. ADDC in a statement said that the meeting was at-

tended by KU vice president Honang Konyak, general secretary Wango Konyak and Advisory Board of Konyak Union. Further, ADDC and Aboi public also decided that the committee would see the outcome of the February 2 and 4 meeting between KU (Apex) and nine Konyak elected members and that the movement would depend on the decision taken. In the meeting, ADDC also sought support of Nagas in general and Konyaks in particular to support the cause of Aboi district headquarters demand as this was for upgradation and uplift-

ment of the people who had been deprived till date. Mentioning that the issue of Aboi district headquarters demand was people’s movement and should not be withdrawn until the State government declared Aboi a full-fledged district, ADDC hoped that the government would wisely ponder and take a decision for early declaration of the district as it was genuine and long-pending issue known to all. The committee hoped that KU (apex body) and Konyak elected members would declare Aboi district without any hesitation in the February 2 and 4 meetings.

75% adults vaccinated against Covid: Modi hails ‘momentous feat’

NEW DELHI, JAN 30 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India is fighting the new wave of Covid with “great success” and asserted that the people’s trust on indigenous vaccines was "our strength". In his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio broadcast, Modi said, “Now the cases of corona infection have also started decreasing, this is a very positive sign.” It is a matter of pride that till

Rev. Yankey Patton laid to rest DIMAPUR, JAN 30 (NPN): People from all walks of life paid glowing tributes to late Rev. Yankey Patton at the ‘home going’ funeral service held at Lotha Baptist Church Diphupar on Sunday, organised by the Lotha Baptist Churches Association. Late. Rev. Yankey, Nagaland’s first State Chaplain, passed away on January 28 at his residence in Diphupar. According to DPRO, Nchumbemo Patton, the only son of late Rev. Yankey Patton described his

‘Home going’ funeral held at Lotha Baptist Church Diphupar. (DPRO)

father as a spiritual icon and Meripeni Patton, the highlighted the many divine youngest grand-daughter of interventions upon his dad the late Rev. Yankey Patton during his ministry. described him as her spiritu-

al guide and mentor besides helping her to build a strong relationship with God. Former NLA speaker Thenucho recalled an incident (August 14, 1991) when he was the speaker, accompanied by Rev. Yankey (State Chaplian then), were travelling to Mon to attend the Independence Day celebration. He said their entourage was ambushed near Nagaland gate during which nine NAP police personnel, his PA, driver and bodyguard were killed.

Narendra Modi

now about four-and-a-half crore children have been administered the first dose of coronavirus vaccine, he said. “This means that about 60 per cent of youth in the age group of 15 to 18 years have got their vaccines within three to four weeks. This will not only protect

our youth but will also help them to continue with their studies,” he said. Another good thing is that within 20 days, one crore people have taken the precaution dose as well, Modi said. “This trust of our people on the indigenous vaccines is our great strength,” the prime minister said. “People should be safe, the pace of economic activities of the country should be maintained -- this is the wish of every person in the country,” PM said. Earlier in the day, PM Modi congratulated fellow citizens for this “momen-

tous feat” of full vaccination of 75 per cent of all adults and said he is proud of all those who are making the inoculation drive a success. Tagging a tweet by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in which he stated that India has achieved its goal of vaccinating 75 per cent adult population against Covid, the prime minister said, “75% of all adults are fully vaccinated. Congratulations to our fellow citizens for this momentous feat.” “Proud of all those who are making our vaccination drive a success,” he tweeted.

Blast in Shillong’s Police Bazar; CM condemns Correspondent

SHILLONG, JAN 30: A low intensity blast occurred outside Shillong Wine Store in Police Bazar, a busy commercial area in Meghalaya’s capital on Sunday evening. Police said that no one was injured in the blast as the market was almost empty with shops remaining closed on Sundays due to the pandemic restrictions. The explosion occurred at around 6.30 p.m. outside the staircase of the wine store. Police cordoned-off the area (Cont’d on p-8) for forensic investigation.

“Strongly condemn the blast at Police Bazar, Shillong this evening. An attempt to disrupt peace and bring harm is nothing but a cowardly act,” Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma said in a tweet. Sagma assured that the perpetrators will not be spared. “Forensic and bomb squad team are investigating the blast site to ascertain the nature of the explosive,” S. Nongtnger, SP East Khasi Hills, said over phone. He Properties damaged by the said an investigation is on to find out those involved. blast on Sunday. (NP) K Y M C


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